SA’s new grocery plug is cheaper than Shoprite, PnP and Checkers

Imagine walking into a grocery store with just R50 in your pocket… and walking out with a full stomach and clean laundry. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, it’s real – and it’s happening in Diepsloot, Johannesburg.

Introducing Skubu, the brand-new grocery store that’s flipping the script on how we shop for essentials. This is not your average supermarket. Skubu is bringing smart, simple no-fuss shopping – and best of all, it’s affordable!

Bring Your Own Container, Buy What You Need

At Skubu, you bring your own containers (yes, those old peanut butter jars and ice cream tubs finally have a purpose), and you fill up on just what you need. Maize meal? Rice? Sugar? Dishwashing liquid? You decide how much. No need to buy the whole 5kg bag when all you need is a couple of scoops.

And the prices? Next-level. We’re talking R9 per kg of maize meal and R10 for 500g of sugar – prices that make even your local spaza blush.

“With R50, I can go to bed with a full stomach.”
That’s what one shopper had to say – and honestly, that sums it up. Skubu is letting people shop smartly, flexibly, and with dignity. No judgment, no pressure. Just what you can afford, when you can afford it.

Backed by Brains and Tech

This isn’t just a feel-good community shop – it’s a full-on science-backed pilot project. Skubu is a collaboration between the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, the CSIR and a local tech startup called Sonke (Pty) Ltd. They’re testing a new way of shopping that’s kinder to your wallet and the planet.

The refill stations are actually pretty high-tech. They’re connected to the internet to track product movement and make sure there’s always stock.

And get this: no plastic packaging! You use your own containers, which means less waste, less pollution and a cleaner Earth. It’s part of a broader move towards a circular economy – fancy talk for reducing waste and reusing more.

The Bigger Picture

Why does this matter? Because food prices keep climbing. According to the PMBEJD, a basic household food basket in Mzansi cost over R5,400 in June 2025 – up by 3.6% since last year. Meanwhile, our salaries and social grants? Not growing nearly as fast.

Skubu is a lifeline. It’s a shot at real food security for families that are tired of playing budget gymnastics every month.

How Cheap Are We Talking?

Skubu claims their prices are up to 50% cheaper than traditional retailers like Shoprite, Checkers and Pick n Pay. That’s not just nice – that’s revolutionary.

Sonke’s founder, Eben de Jongh, broke it down: “Skubu is fully automated. It lets people buy exactly what they need, in quantities they can afford.”

No gimmicks. No store cards. No 3-for-2 deals that only work if you have R100 to spare. Just straight-up affordable basics.

And It’s Only the Beginning

This is just the pilot – the first chapter. The hope is to take the Skubu model nationwide, maybe even across Africa. But first, the CSIR and their team of data nerds are studying how things go in Diepsloot. They’re looking at everything – who’s buying what, how much waste is being saved, and whether this model can hold its own in the tough world of grocery retail.

According to Professor Linda Godfrey from the CSIR (she’s leading the Circular Innovation South Africa initiative), it’s also a great example of what happens when government, business and science work together.

Innovation That Matters

Dr Mmboneni Muofhe from the Department of Science and Innovation said it best: this is innovation with heart. It’s not just about flashy tech – it’s about solving real problems, protecting the environment, and building up local businesses.

So, next time you’re counting your last Rands and wondering how you’ll make it to payday, remember the name Skubu. It might just be the future of shopping in South Africa.

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